Table 4 Comparison of national physical activity recommendations for older adults with the WHO recommendations
Country | Inactivity | Minimum recommendations | Further recommendations | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Duration | Combination | Frequency | Bouts | Add. health benefits | Strength, balance etc. | Overweight | |||
Moderate intensity | Vigorous intensity | ||||||||
WHO [22] | - | 150 minutes/week, or be as physically active as abilities and conditions allow | 75 minutes/week | Explicitly stated | Throughout the week | At least 10 minutes | 300 minutes moderate intensity/week, 150 minutes vigorous-intensity/week, or combination | - Persons with poor mobility: activity to enhance balance and prevent falls on 3 or more days/week; - muscle-strengthening activities on 2 or more days/week | - |
Austria [27] | - | 150 minutes/week Be as active as condition allows if minimum recommendations cannot be met | 75 minutes/week | Explicitly stated | On most days of the week | At least 10 minutes | 300 minutes moderate intensity/week, 150 minutes vigorous-intensity/week, or combination | On 2 or more days/week: strength training, balance training | - |
Denmark [29] | - | At least 30 minutes | - | - | Daily | - | More activity will have additional health benefits | - Activities to maintain and enhance muscle strength and fitness at least twice/week for 20 minutes - Balance and stretching twice a week at least 10 minutes | - |
Iceland [34] | Avoid inactivity and incorporate physical activity into daily life | 30 minutes | - | - | Daily | For ex. 10-15 minutes | More activity can promote further health benefits. In addition to basic recommendations, at least twice a week 20-30 minutes of vigorous activities to promote further fitness. | Strength training is especially beneficial for older people | - |
Ireland [35] | - | 30 minutes daily or 150 minutes/week Any amount of physical activity gains some health benefits | - | - | 5 days/week | At least 10 minutes | - | Strength and balance training on 2-3 days/week | - |
Netherlands [38] | - | 30 minutes at least 5 days/week+ For non-active people, all extra physical exercise is significant, regardless of intensity, duration, frequency and type | 20 minutes 3 times/week | - | Daily | - | - | - | - |
United Kingdom [43] | Minimize sedentary (sitting) time for extended periods | Any amount of activity gains some health benefits. Some activity is better than none, and more activity provides greater benefits. 150 minutes (2½ hours); one way to approach this is 30 minutes on at least 5 days/week | 75 minutes | Explicitly stated | Daily (MPA)Spread across the week (VPA) | At least 10 minutes | - | Strength training on at least 2 days/week Older adults at risk of falls: balance and coordination training on at least 2 days/week | - |